The hasapiko (
Greek: χασάπικο, pronounced[xaˈsapiko], meaning “the butcher's [dance]”) is a
Greek folk dance from
Constantinople. The dance originated in the
Middle Ages as a battle
mime with swords performed by the
Greek butchers' guild, which adopted it from the military of the
Byzantine era.[1] In
Constantinople during the
Byzantine times, it was called in Greek μακελλάρικος χορός (makellárikos horós, "butcher's dance", from μακελλάριος “butcher”). Some
Greeks, however, reserve the latter term only for the fast version of the dance.
The slow version of the dance is called χασάπικο βαρύ / χασάπικος βαρύς (hasapiko vary or hasapikos varys, "heavy hasapiko") and generally employs a 4 4 meter.[2] The fast version of the dance uses a 2 4 meter. It is variously called γρήγορο χασάπικο (grigoro hasapiko, "fasthasapiko") or χασαποσέρβικο (hasaposerviko),[2] the last two terms in reference to
Serbian and other Balkan influences on this version of the dance. The fast version is also called μακελλάριος χορός (makellarios horos), [citation needed]
The hasapiko (
Greek: χασάπικο, pronounced[xaˈsapiko], meaning “the butcher's [dance]”) is a
Greek folk dance from
Constantinople. The dance originated in the
Middle Ages as a battle
mime with swords performed by the
Greek butchers' guild, which adopted it from the military of the
Byzantine era.[1] In
Constantinople during the
Byzantine times, it was called in Greek μακελλάρικος χορός (makellárikos horós, "butcher's dance", from μακελλάριος “butcher”). Some
Greeks, however, reserve the latter term only for the fast version of the dance.
The slow version of the dance is called χασάπικο βαρύ / χασάπικος βαρύς (hasapiko vary or hasapikos varys, "heavy hasapiko") and generally employs a 4 4 meter.[2] The fast version of the dance uses a 2 4 meter. It is variously called γρήγορο χασάπικο (grigoro hasapiko, "fasthasapiko") or χασαποσέρβικο (hasaposerviko),[2] the last two terms in reference to
Serbian and other Balkan influences on this version of the dance. The fast version is also called μακελλάριος χορός (makellarios horos), [citation needed]